Trump calls Jan. 6 a “beautiful day” during CNN town hall
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Donald Trump’s legal troubles could escalate after the National Archives found a trove of records showing the former president knew he was breaking rules by taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.
The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr Trump this week in which he revealed it had found 16 records showing he and his top advisers were aware of the proper declassification process when he was president.
“The 16 records in question reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, about whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records,” Archivist Debra Steidel Wall wrote.
Those records will be turned over to Special Counsel Jack Smith as part of the criminal investigation into Mr. trump
The revelation comes as Mr Trump continues to attack Ron DeSantis, as the Florida governor prepares to launch his 2024 campaign next week.
“After campaigning for five months and going nowhere but down, it looks like Ron DeSanctimonious will soon enter the race. He has ZERO chance, and MAGA will never forget!” Mr Trump raved on Truth Social on Thursday night.
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ICYMI: More Trump impeachments would give Biden and Democrats big boost in 2024, poll finds
President Joe Biden would have a big lead over Donald Trump if the former president faces more criminal charges from federal and state criminal investigations into his conduct, according to a new poll obtained by The Independent.
The poll of 1,571 registered voters was conducted by WPA Research, a Republican polling firm. The WPA CEO is an adviser to Never Back Down, the Super PAC that supports Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but the poll was conducted independently without his input and was not sponsored by the Super PAC.
It found that voters currently prefer Mr. Biden over Mr. Trump by a 47% to 40% margin, including a 14-point lead for the incumbent among registered independents.
Sravasti DasguptaMay 19, 2023 1:30 p.m
New damning evidence spells trouble for Trump in classified Mar-a-Lago documents probe
Donald Trump’s legal troubles could escalate after the National Archives found a trove of records showing the former president knew he shouldn’t have brought classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, according to a report.
The National Archives sent a letter, obtained by CNN, to Mr. Trump this week in which he disclosed that it had found 16 presidential records that showed he and his top advisers were aware of the proper declassification process when he was in the White House .
“The 16 records in question reflect communications involving close presidential advisers, some of them directed to you personally, about whether, why, and how you should declassify certain classified records,” Archivist Debra Steidel Wall wrote.
Rachel SharpMay 19, 2023 1:15 p.m
At least 80 calls to the National Archives since 2010 about the mishandling of classified information
The National Archives has been subpoenaed more than 80 times in the past decade, more than for classified materials found in the records of former members of Congress and other US officials, according to newly released congressional testimony.
This number underscores weaknesses in how the US government tracks and safeguards its most important secrets.
Classified materials found at former President Donald Trump’s properties and in subsequent searches of President Joe Biden’s files before he won the White House and those held by Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence are being investigated.
Ariana BaioMay 19, 2023 1:00 p.m
Chris Christie expected to join the 2024 race within days
Chris Christie is expected to enter the 2024 presidential race in the coming days.
Multiple sources told “New Hampshire Today” host Chris Ryan that the former New Jersey governor and Trump adviser-turned-critic will throw his hat into the ring “in the next few days.”
His campaign will be backed by Steve Cohen, the billionaire owner of the New York Mets on whose board Christie sits.
Rachel SharpMay 19, 2023 12:45 p.m
Jim Jordan blocks Democrats from seeing evidence in chaotic ‘weaponization of government’ hearing.
A House Judiciary Committee hearing descended into chaos Thursday morning when Ohio Rep. and Chairman Jim Jordan claimed that Republicans on the committee should not hand over key evidence to their Democratic colleagues because it came from ‘a “whistleblower”.
Jordan convened the committee Thursday for a hearing on the “weaponization of the government,” calling witnesses to testify about alleged biases by federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI.
Sravasti DasguptaMay 19, 2023 12:30 p.m
Trump continues to attack ‘Ron DeSanctimonious’
Donald Trump continues to attack Ron DeSantis, as the Florida governor prepares to launch his 2024 campaign next week by facing the former president in the race for the Republican vote.
“After campaigning for five months and going nowhere but down, it looks like Ron DeSanctimonious will soon enter the race. He has ZERO chance, and MAGA will never forget!” Mr Trump raved on Truth Social on Thursday night.
People close to Mr. DeSantis told The Wall Street Journal that the Florida governor will officially launch his presidential bid next week.
He is expected to file official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on May 24.
Rachel SharpMay 19, 2023 12:15 p.m
VOICES: What if it’s neither Biden nor Trump?
VOICES: “We all know about Trump’s myriad legal problems. However, I don’t think most Americans have stopped to think about what they mean for the future of our country. I’m not talking about the implications of (re)electing a man who, whether a jury of his peers found him to be credibly responsible for sexual assault or trying to overthrow the government of the United States of America, is manifestly unfit for office. I’m talking about the fact that he might not be able to serve at all.”
Skylar Baker-Jordan write:
Ariana BaioMay 19, 2023 12:00 p.m
Tim Scott launches an advertising campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire, for the long-awaited presidential bid
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina plans to begin airing television ads in Iowa and New Hampshire early next week as he prepares for a planned 2024 Republican presidential campaign.
The ad buy, valued at about $5.5 million, is scheduled for the first GOP presidential debate in late August and is the largest ad spend by a potential or declared candidate in the early stages of the campaign. 2024 nomination campaign.
Scott, who last month formed an exploratory committee allowing him to raise and spend money as he weighs a White House campaign, plans to make a “major announcement” Monday in his hometown of North Charleston about his decision on a presidential candidacy
Scott has been traveling to early voting states such as Iowa, which is holding its first primary, and New Hampshire, which is hosting the nation’s first primary, while also campaigning in his home state, which is holding its first primary in the South. next year
He would begin a bid with more campaign dollars than any of his 2024 rivals — about $22 million that he can automatically transfer from his U.S. Senate campaign account to a presidential campaign. The number is the highest any candidate in history has had when starting a campaign for the presidency, according to the Federal Electoral Commission,
Aides to Scott, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the not-yet-public strategy, said he planned to run ads non-stop in early voting states starting next week and through the Carolina primary from the South
If he enters the race, he would join a field that includes former President Donald Trump, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the host of Larry Elder radio.
Rachel SharpMay 19, 2023 11:45 am
Pete Buttigieg says the GOP is falling into a “delicious” trap
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said there is something “delicious” about far-right members of Congress taking a stand against corporations that promote diversity or progressive ideas, as he believes it unites the majority of the Americans who are on the other side of the fence.
Despite what appears to be an increasingly polarized political environment, Buttigieg expressed hope for common ground in America, thanks in part to the GOP, while speaking with Wired.
Over the past few years, several notable right-wing members of Congress have criticized companies such as Bud Light, Disney, Coca-Cola and American Express for promoting inclusion.
Sravasti DasguptaMay 19, 2023 11:30 am
Trump laments that he is a ‘victim’ of the ‘weaponization of justice’
Donald Trump complained that he is a “victim” of the “weaponization of justice” in a self-pitying Truth Social post.
“Very sad to see what happened today in Congress regarding whistleblowers and the FBI. There has never been a moment like this in our country, the complete weaponization of Justice,” he wrote.
“I’m a victim too, but the real victim is the United States of America. Congress needs to use its purse strings to fix this, before it’s too late!
Trump was speaking in response to Thursday’s House Judiciary Select Subcommittee hearing on arming the federal government, where Republicans claimed FBI agents were retaliated against for holding conservative views.
Rachel SharpMay 19, 2023 11:15 am
